What to look for when choosing a swim school
06/08/2021 | Written by Nikos Kaskaras in Swimming Lesson Tips
Making the right choices in life is probably one of the most challenging tasks. To a great degree, who we are in life is a matter of the choices we make. Well-planned choices lead us to success while poor choices can restrict our perspectives or even drag us. It's no different when talking about swimming lessons. What should you look at when choosing a swim school for you and your family?
Flexibility is crucial
The first criterion is purely practical and is relevant to the flexibility of the swim school teachers and how well it matches your time and location. This is the primary aspect of life choices in general. Maybe I'm in love with Scarlet Johansson, but since she is married and lives on a different continent, I should forget about her. Well, it's the same for almost everything, isn't it? Even the best swim teacher would be of no use if he/she lives in a much distant area.
Therefore, you should carefully check how well the swim school matches your needs. Here's a list of important questions to ask:
- Is it based near your residence area?
- Can the swim teacher(s) come into your home conveniently for providing home swim lessons?
- Are they giving you clear and straightforward answers to your queries?
- Can you make all the arrangements online instead of needing to make lengthy phone calls?
- Are they responding timely and accurately?
- Do you get the option of attending the swim classes over a long period that suits your needs instead of restrictive term contracts?
If the answer to the above questions is “yes", you can proceed to the next steps.
Evaluate the qualities of the swim teachers
This is the most important part of your search. After all, the main purpose is to enjoy quality swim classes at a personal or family level. How can you do that? The first option would be to check the social media reviews. The testimonials of people who had a first-hand experience are always very useful. This gets us to our second criterion for evaluation: Do you know any people around your area who were taking swim classes? Ask them how they evaluate their swim instructors and then compare their words to the social media testimonials. While it's obvious that all swim schools will include positive reviews of their services, you could still sense how sincere and valid the words of the reviewers are. For example, if you need swim classes for your children getting a double opinion from both online and offline sources, would give you the best idea about what to expect. Another significant aspect is the option of changing your swim instructor after the first lesson if you are not satisfied. This is an indicator of flexibility as well as validity.
Check the variety of classes
Another thing to watch is the variety of swim classes on offer. Is there a variety of options? Are most age and social groups included in the swim courses in the offer? Is there a clear and concise schedule plan for each category (e.g. infants, CALD children and adults, seniors, pregnant women etc.)? Swim schools which cover the swim needs of the whole population, regardless of their age, level of swim expertise, cultural & linguistic diversity and ambitions are much more likely to be a good choice. On the other hand, swim schools or independent swim instructors who limit their scope to specific sections of the population, are a more risky choice. Always look for certified swim schools that indicate their certificates. Transparency and sincerity are significant points of evaluation. They are both clear signs of professionalism and increase the probability of making the right choice.
Make sure that the swim school provides insurance
Many people regard that they have managed a “good deal” when they pay less for a service they use. In most cases, what escapes their attention is why they get those “deals”, why they have to pay less money. Failing to read between the lines can have costly consequences. In numerous cases, such misconceptions can lead to devastating results. The case of neglecting swim insurance for the sake of saving a little amount of money is certainly a huge mistake. Choosing freelancer swim instructors who are not offering any insurance at all is neither a bargain nor a good deal. It's instead a big risk that can result in paying a great deal of money in the end, not to mention the safety aspect. It's just common sense: Anyone who is not obliged to pay insurance costs in case of an accident, will not take the same strict measures as a professional who offers insurance. It's simple as that. You have to be a careless gambler to neglect insurance during swim classes. Your safety, your family's safety your kids' safety should be above all matters.
Time does not lie
There is a general “law” that applies to most aspects of life: Time does not lie. “The path of a liar is short”, says a proverb and this is the case even when talking about making the best choice of a swim school. It's not unusual to hear and read pompous declarations about almost everything. TV advertisements are the most typical example of that. Nonetheless, the reality on numerous occasions is much different. The only problem is that when you realise it, it's usually too late for repairing the damage done. Of course, making the right choices all the time sounds like a mission impossible task. We are humans, not machines. No person on this planet did not make a mistake in life. What makes the big difference, though, is to learn from our mistakes, so that we don't repeat them. The same applies to the discussion about what to look for when choosing your swim school. You don't have to be an investigative reporter to take the best decision but you certainly need to ask the right questions and consider recommendations. Cheaters don't last long while qualified and dedicated professionals will naturally get what they deserve.
